Over the next few months, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) will be presenting chapters from its Credit River Watershed Health Report.
Officials say each chapter will provide insight into the watershed’s health and whether conditions are getting better, worse, or staying the same.
The report, which looks at some of the major factors that may be contributing to changing conditions, analyzes data collected by CVC through its Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program (IWMP) over many years of monitoring the Credit River watershed.
“Through IWMP, CVC measures a variety of indicators of watershed health,” said Loveleen Clayton, acting supervisor of watershed monitoring and reporting.
“Each indicator represents a different component of the watershed ecosystem.”
The components CVC is studying include: climate; stream flow; groundwater quality and levels; fluvial geomorphology (the form and function of rivers and interaction between rivers and landscape); forests, wetland and streamside ecology; surface water quality; aquatic insects and other related organisms; and fish.
“Together these indicators provide a comprehensive view of ecosystem health within the Credit River Watershed. When any of these indicators reach a defined threshold this signals a trend of concern that requires further investigation,” said Clayton.
“Since 1999, CVC staff has collected data from 289 unique stations through the IWMP.”
Officials say this report is significant because it tracks changes in the watershed over the long-term, providing a comprehensive analysis about its health. As further chapters are made available, residents are encouraged to visit CVC’s website at www.creditvalleyca.ca/watershedhealthreport and read the Credit River Watershed Health Report.
IWMP is supported by CVC’s partners: Region of Halton, Region of Peel, County of Dufferin, County of Wellington, City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, Town of Caledon, Town of Erin, Town of Halton Hills, Town of Mono, Town of Orangeville, Township of Amaranth, Township of East Garafraxa, Environment Canada, Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources.
